verb

relapse

rih-LAPS

verb

To fall back into a former, usually worse, state after a period of improvement.

"He relapsed into old habits within weeks of quitting."

"The patient relapsed just as doctors thought she was recovering."

noun

An occasion of falling back into illness, a bad habit, or a previous state.

"The addiction charity helps people cope with relapse."

How to Use Relapse

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo slip back into a bad state (illness, addiction, old habits) after getting better.

Common pairings

suffer a relapse relapse into old habits risk of relapse

relapsed past tense, relapses plural, relapses singular

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Can you complete this real example?

He _____ into old habits within weeks of quitting.

From Latin relabi, "to slide back," from re- ("back") plus labi ("to slip or slide").

lapse collapse